Petitioning is the only direct way that an individual can ask the House of Representatives (the House) to do something.
The House won’t always do what you have requested but, by petitioning, your concern is brought to the attention of the House and the Minister.
When your petition is published you can share your petition and ask people sign it. This brings your concern to the attention of other people.
Together, these actions create awareness for the matter you’re petitioning about.
If a petition doesn’t suit your circumstances, you could contact:
- Your Federal Member of Parliament or Senator
- The Commonwealth Ombudsman
- The Administrative Appeals Tribunal
- The Government Department or Minister responsible for the matter you are concerned about
- Your State or Territory Government or local council (if it’s a matter for them)
Tip: The issue you are concerned about may be the subject of a current parliamentary committee inquiry. If so, you may be able to make a submission to an inquiry and have your say that way. You can also read reports of previous inquiries to see what has already been done.